New soccer coach gets first victory
Pack beats Feather River in scrimmage
As the Nevada soccer team clanked shots off the goal posts and squandered scoring opportunities Saturday afternoon against Feather River College, observers couldn’t help but wonder whether the Wolf Pack would ever exploit one of these scoring chances.
“We’re creating opportunities,” said coach Jaime Frias. “Now all we have to do is finish. You have to remember, we’ve only been training for about three weeks. I’m sure the finishing will come as the season progresses.”
Nevada won the exhibition, 2-0, and outpaced Feather River with a goal in each half. It was Frias’ first match as head coach after being hired in December.
“Sometimes you make them and sometimes you don’t,” said junior Miranda Montejo, a captain in the 2007 season. “At least we were in position to score.”
The Wolf Pack did capitalize twice on these scoring opportunities, though. The first came in the first half on a goal by freshman Cristen Drummond. Drummond received a pass from junior Trisha Gibbons while inside of the goalie box and shot the ball in to the left of the goalie.
“Trish centered the ball and I saw the keeper shifting to her right, so I tried to aim the kick to her left,” Drummond said.
The second goal came in the second half on a header by freshman Erin Smith. Junior Jessica Thompson centered the ball on a corner kick, but the ball was headed out by a Feather River defender. Fortunately for Nevada, the ball ended up right at Thompson’s feet. Thompson centered it once again and the second time proved to be the charm as Smith came flying in from the right of the goalie and headed in the game’s final goal.
Though the Pack wasted many chances on Saturday, they were content with the game’s outcome.
“It was a good win,” Frias said. “We’re developing players and it’s good to be able to play someone other than ourselves. It gives us a chance to see where we’re at.”
“It feels great to be out here again and competing,” Montejo said. “It’s a real confidence builder and we’re all just finding our love for the game again.”
While the scoring opportunities were abundant, they weren’t there by chance, the players said. They were a direct result of the new offense that Frias has installed.
“I like to keep possession of the ball and play really up-tempo,” Frias said. “There’s a lot of mobility in this offense and it really showed today.”
The players responded well to his style.
“I really like Jaime’s coaching style,” Montejo said. “We keep the ball in midfield and just work from there.”
The players all seemed pleased with the new offensive scheme, but acknowledged that there is still work to be done.
“It’s a great system,” said freshman Alyx Sacks. “We just have to stay composed and the finishing will come though practice and as the season progresses. It’s still early.”
Nevada has scheduled four spring games. The next will also be at Mackay Stadium where they will be hosting Sacramento State University on April 12 at 3 p.m.
Photo by Daniel Clark/Nevada Sagebrush
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March 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Why is UNR playing junior colleges? Is that what the soccer program has fallen too?
March 14th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
In the spring season you play anyone you can. Most D 1 schools have at least one or two lower level games, vs d 2 or 3 or naia teams. You don’t have the budget to travel all over and play anyone you want.
Also, if he was just hired in Dec, then he got a late start on scheduling and had to fill in games.
The girls seem happy, the team won the game. Hello Debbie Downer.